The news of today constantly reminds the British public that we are currently in a recession, and that times are hard for both the spending public and businesses alike. A recent article has highlighted the struggles of one particular group of people and the “Remedies” offered by one particular employer.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) have recently reported on their website that Johnston Press group, who employ a number of NUJ members, have resorted to a somewhat unique way of offering low paid employees a means of supplementing their income.
Johnston Press plc are reported to be one of the top three largest local newspaper publishers in the UK. A claim not to be sniffed at by any means, but in recent times the company appears to have suffered as a result of the current recession. In the last year it is reported that Johnston Press plc has made 230 editorial staff redundant, and have previously frozen salaries of those still on the payroll. A freeze reported to be nearly in its second year.
So what is it that Johnston Press plc have offered employees as a means of supplementing their income?
Astonishingly every employee can play 40 free games of Johnston's online bingo. They can play Bingo for free to earn a few extra pounds to top up their weekly wage. That’s not too bad is it? We didn’t think so, that was until we read about one of key elements to this offer that employees are barred from winning the top prizes.
So far we understand this arrangement is as follows:
Wages are frozen for nearly 2 years and as a means to supplement those wages, Johnston Press plc are giving employees 40 free bingo games (One would assume to win some money) to give them a chance to top up those wages.
HOWEVER those employees cant win any big money? Does this mean that if a low paid employee of Johnston Press plc were fortunate enough to hit a jackpot, they wouldn’t be allowed to keep it? A truly astounding arrangement to say the least. It should also be noted that all readers are entitled to 30 free games with no restrictions.
In an article posted on the National Union of Journalists website, NUJ negotiator Jenny Lennox had more than a few words to say on the matter:
"The NUJ has frequently drawn the attention of Johnston shareholders to the shambolic management of the group, and its determination to dilute and even destroy the quality journalism which its journalists are still providing across the UK. But we are entering a whole new never-never land when we find that the company is now resorting to bingo to keep afloat – and pay massive management salaries – while cuts to its journalistic service to local communities are driving away readers, advertisers and revenue. We have been warning for more than a year that the Johnston Press group is being run into the ground. This once-proud newspaper group has destroyed the bond of trust with its journalists, and is destroying a well-regarded brand, further reducing the credibility of the titles in the eyes of its readers. It will take a lot more than Bingo to restore that reputation, and the NUJ demands that Johnston management begins today to work with its skilled and dedicated journalists to rebuild a stable of newspapers of which readers, staff and the group can be proud."
From the statement above it is clear that the NUJ are not at all happy with the current situation, and from our point of view, quite rightly too, one would hope that those employees taking this offer are lucky enough perhaps not to win the Jackpots available, but instead lots of smaller prizes instead. May the bingo balls be kind to them all.
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